Monday, June 30, 2014

Hot New Romantic Suspense - Only 99 Cents!


Title: Murderous Lies
Released: June 30, 2014
Author: Chantel Rhondeau
Genre: Romantic Suspense/Murder Mystery
Length: 61,000 words

Imprisoned for murders he didn’t commit, Max Kensington is exonerated after eight years when a new witness steps forward. He returns to his hometown and no one’s happy to see him, least of all his ex-fiancĂ©e, Rosemary Spelling.

Max’s return forces Rose to confront her feelings about the past. The day he killed her sister ruined Rose’s life, destroying her family and landing her mother in a mental institution.

When someone leaves a bloody threat on Rose’s porch, the police jump to conclusions, assuming Max is after revenge. Rose isn’t so sure. She begins questioning Max’s guilt, wondering if someone is trying to cover up what really happened to her sister.

All Max wants is his life back and a chance to regain Rose’s love. To get that, he has to catch the killer. His obsessive need for justice drives his actions, but the murderer seems a step ahead. When new bodies surface, evidence points to Max as the culprit. Now he could lose everything when the killer zeroes in on a new target…Rose.

Content Warning: Language, Violence, and Sizzling Love Scenes

“Exciting cat-and-mouse mystery full of surprising twists and scorching second chances.” ~ Rachelle Ayala – Romantic Suspense Author

Read the first two chapters: http://bit.ly/1p780vQ

On Sale for only 99 cents for two weeks only! Buy it Now!
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/1nisHlm
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1p786Uq 
Apple iBooks:  http://bit.ly/UEU9SR 
All Romance eReads: http://bit.ly/1qZf11n
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1qngtgs

Add to Goodreads:  http://bit.ly/SMFGlS  





Author Bio
Chantel once thought a great mystery or fantasy book with strong romantic themes was the highest level of reading bliss. After reading her first romantic suspense novel, she never looked back. Before long, the need to create her own stories took over. She spend her days in the clinical profession of medical transcriptionist, but her passion is in the hours spent with her characters in the evenings.

She live in the western United States, and when she's not writing she love playing cards with her family, bowling on leagues, and snuggling with her lazy kitties. 

Want to contact Chantel?


Check out all Chantel's available titles: http://www.chantelrhondeau.com/p/my-available-titles.html

Sunday, June 29, 2014

#NewRelease - YA Fantasy - Eruption

Book Title: Eruption
Series: The Vangretta Curse #3
Author: Christina Mobley
Release Date: June 29, 2014
Genre: YA Fantasy
Presented by:As You Wish Tours

To celebrate today's release of Eruption (book 3), Elementris (book1) is FREE on Amazon Kindle!!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1496075970627222/

BLURB

When you love someone more than yourself, protecting them is all that matters; it is all there is...

Snow one minute and blazing temperatures the next, horrific storms everywhere, and Ava has no idea what’s causing it. Desperate for answers, she turns to the past. An ancient diary reveals the truth about Element Island and the true origins of those born of the Element. Everything she thought she knew is wrong. Destiny is coming for her unborn child.

Ava’s fairytale has quickly turned into a nightmare. No one can be trusted. Friendships will be tested, and lives will be lost. As nature and destiny collide, a child that will change everything is born. The eruption will mark the beginning and the end, and the battle has just begun.

 
EXCERPT

…Brea…

Caslan had drawn a strange symbol on the sand in front of her before moving around to stand at her back. “Say these words.” he instructed, the words whispering against her neck as his warm breath tickled the tiny hairs there. Her skin tingled and her heart started to race. “Rub the crystal with your thumb. You’re going to make that baby float,” he said.

Brea laughed, “Yeah, right.”

“You will,” he said against her ear. “Say these words. “Rise up, dance for me, Harinick awlet manicuine, and visualize it. Concentrate on the symbol.” The words rolled off his tongue, making him sound like he was from a different time.

Brea closed her eyes, feeling a strange prickling sensation in the palm of her hand. It felt like it had fallen asleep and was trying to wake back up. Caslan reached for her hand and pried her fingers open. She looked down at the crystal that lay in her palm. Colors flashed within it.

“Say the words and look at the symbol. Make the crystal weightless.”

Brea took a deep breath. “Raise up, dance for me, Harinick awlet manicuine.” She leaned forward and concentrated on the symbol. The symbol turned black and then caught fire. The crystal rose from her hand and floated above the flaming symbol. Brea wanted to scream. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. The crystal spun higher and higher until it was right in front of her face. It hovered there, spinning like it weighed nothing at all.

Caslan took her chin in his hand and kissed her. His kiss was not careful it was all-consuming and feral. She knew she should fear the strange sensations he was causing her to feel, but it was so amazing. She’d never felt more alive; out of control, yet completely free. His hands moved over her body and suddenly she didn’t want there to be any space between them. She wrapped herself around him as he lowered her to the sand. She heard the crystal drop beside them. He was breathing fast, just like hers. He propped himself up on his elbow, looked at her, and grinned. “I told you that you could do it.”

“You did that.” She accused, a little disappointed that he seemed to want to talk.

“No,” he denied. “That was all you. You did that.”

“Did I really?” she asked, feeling a little better about the talking thing, amazed at what she had done.

He leaned in and, touching her lightly, slowly traced a path over her shoulder and down her arm before he responded, “You did.”

http://amzn.to/1uJW3i9http://amzn.to/1iyAqb5

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christina Mobley is a married, mother of four, who spends her days caring for her children. She grew up in Florida, living on the banks of the St.Mary's river, and as a child always had a fascination for storms and the power they wield. The Vangeretta Curse series was inspired by that fascination.







AUTHOR LINKS

http://www.asyouwishtours.com/p/join-our-team.html

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#NewRelease ~ The Sinful Man by Keith Rommel

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Sunbury Press has released Keith Rommel's 3rd installment of the Thanatology seriesThe Sinful Man
About the Book:
Headaches. Hunger. Pain.
Leo needs something . . . his stomach growls, but it can wait. That’s not hunger he must feed. He has to get to his next high, but without money he knows he can’t buy what he needs to sate the voice inside telling him to get more, get more.
Voices. Visions. Addiction.
No luck asking his father. His mother is in no position to help. After failing to steal the money he desperately needs, Leo must appeal to his dealer, the dangerous and infamous Saint Nick—despite the inevitable beating he’ll take for showing up empty-handed. Still, anything to keep the voices and flashbacks at bay . . .
Demons. Addiction. Death.
Leo soon learns that everything has a price—not just money for drugs, but that every choice he makes has a repercussion. Suddenly caught between a world where he can see the sins of his past and a new consciousness that he doesn’t fully understand, Leo finds himself not only chasing the dragon, but being chased by demons of a whole different kind. He must learn the finality of being past hope—all while reliving his missed opportunities for second chances—and truly come to understand that he is responsible for his own undoing before he runs out of time. After a lifetime of bad choices, this Sinful Man discovers the consequences to his actions and the mortal responsibility of exercising free will.
What others are saying:
"Downright chilling. Rommel has woven another nightmare that will haunt your days and nights!" -- Hunter Shea, author of The Montauk Monster and The Waiting
--------

"Reading late into the night, this had me wanting more... and dreading it."  -- Catherine Jordan, author of
Seeking Samiel
---------
From the very beginning of The Sinful Man, Keith Rommel grabs the reader by the throat and catapults him into a world where the reader’s own pounding heart screams that nowhere is safe. --Thomas M. Malafarina, author of
Dead Kill - Book 1 – The Ridge of Death
Authored by Keith Rommel
List Price: $14.95
5" x 8" (12.7 x 20.32 cm)
Black & White on White paper
176 pages
Sunbury Press, Inc.
ISBN-13: 978-1620062654
ISBN-10: 1620062658
BISAC: Fiction / Psychological
Also available on Kindle & Nook
For more information, please see:


The rest of the Thanatology Series:
Book 1 - The Cursed Man -- soon to be a major motion picture:
 The Cursed Man, by Keith Rommel, tells the story of Alister Kunkle, a patient at Sunnyside Capable Care Mental Institution. Alister has been in seclusion for the last 25 years, having no contact with the staff or the outside world. The reason for this is that anyone who communicates with Alister dies within the day, for he is the Cursed Man and Death takes a professional interest in those unlucky enough to cross his path.
Believing him simply deranged, Dr Anna Lee, an up-and-coming young psychiatrist, has come to cure Alister. She is warned about Alister's past and is shown evidence of previous encounters made by the skeptical or unbelieving, all of whom died, sometimes horribly. Regardless of the stories, Anna will not be dissuaded and is reluctantly allowed access to Alister. All assume her fate is sealed, but when she returns unharmed the next day, we also start to wonder about the stories.
So begins an enthralling narrative told in the past and the present as Anna attempts to learn why Alister believes he is cursed, while at the same time trying to convince him the events were not real and that in fact he is merely ill and so can be cured. Is Alister truly followed by death or is he simply mentally ill? The Cursed Man is an extremely well-written suspense horror story... I enjoyed it immensely; right up until the very end I was never sure of the outcome... Great story-telling in the tradition of Stephen King... -- Booklore

Book 2 - The Lurking Man -- a Sunbury Press bestseller:
What happens after we die? Are we given choices based on how we lived our lives?  It’s an age-old question pondered by just about everyone.
Author Keith Rommel dared to explore the answer by creating his newest novel The Lurking Man, a story of dark suspense that unmercifully reveals the life of a self-deluded, neglectful mother who caused irreparable damage to her family and ultimately struggles with death as much as life.  It’s the second novel in his suspenseful and thrilling Thanatology series that began with the eerie, spine-tingling The Cursed Man.
Imagine Death knowing your deepest, darkest secrets and all of your private pain,” said Rommel about  The The Lurking Man. “Now imagine it wants to use what it knows against you so that you bend to its will.”
In the Lurking Man, main character Cailean stands beneath a spotlight in a blinding snowstorm. She has no idea where she is or how she got there, but she senses something moving around her in the darkness outside the light.
When the ominous presence calling himself Sariel makes himself known, he declares that he is Death Incarnate and that Cailean has died. He has taken her to the Aperture, a place between the living and the dead, where he will force her to face the sins of her past in exchange for twenty-four hours of life to try and right her wrongs. But what she must do in return for this precious time is unthinkable.

AVAILABLE WHEREVER BOOKS ARE SOLD

Friday, June 20, 2014

#NewRelease - Contemporary Romance Razor's Edge

Title: Razor's Edge (Afflictions Book 1)
Author: Racquel Reck
Release Date: June 20, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance



Escaping the evil man of her past...... 


With a tattoo gun, Shay Kelly tries to color a better future for herself and her son. When her abusive ex is paroled this proves to be a difficult task. All her clients used to be his and he’s taking them back. But that’s not the only thing he wants.

Screaming his way to the top…

No one can change the visions of Morgan Desario’s past, or what he saw the night his dad died. Marijuana helps the pain his singing can’t numb. When his heavy metal band gets signed, he’s flying high. But fame and fortune do nothing to take away the humiliation he faces every time he gets stuck in a memory.

When their morals slip and their sins collide…

They share the same lifestyle, but couldn't be more different. She's anti-drug and he's all for smoking pot. A night of passion bonds them together, but their connection is strained when their pasts are unleashed. On tour, Morgan’s sins flourish. At home, Shay's morals bend. A sharp line separates what's right and wrong that both are afraid to cross.

Will they be cut walking the Razor’s Edge?


BUY IT NOW:
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Razors-Edge-Afflictions-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00L4BKZY0
Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/razor-s-edge-7

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/razors-edge-racquel-reck/1119743925?ean=2940149776269
Join the Facebook Party: https://www.facebook.com/events/707237626006562/

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:

Friday, June 6, 2014

#NewRelease ~ Incantation Paradox

Tour Banner



Novel: Incantation Paradox
Author: annamaria bazzi
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Cover Designer: Natasha Brown
Available: June 2

Synopsis


IncantationParadox-smallMagic is an illusion. It doesn’t really exist. Or does it?

A horrible car accident destroys Dolores Reynard’s life. But instead of waking up in a hospital bed, she awakens in a teenager’s body. Soon, she discovers she is at the heart of the murderous mystery surrounding the death of Mona, the young girl whose body she occupies. Caught between an evil greater than she ever imagined and a wizard who heals her tattered heart, she is forced to play a dangerous game of intrigue in the hopes of finding a way to return to her previous life.

Will magic be her ally, or will it lead to her demise once and for all.


Book Links:


Enjoy the fourth chapter of the novel. If you follow the tour you'll be able to read all four chapters. I hope you enjoy the chapter.


Excerpt

Chapter Four
How can this be? They can’t just be...gone. My girls.... Dolores swayed on the chair.

“Mona.” Dashing to her side, the man claiming to be her father scooped her into his arms and laid her back on the bed. Sitting on the dainty upholstered chair, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “What’s going on, kiddo?”

The jumbled world made no sense. According to the paper, she was dead, so she must be in hell because it sure didn’t feel like Heaven.

Her focus shifted, landing on a Greek god of about eighteen or nineteen, who stood close by. His chiseled, high cheekbones called attention to chestnut eyes reflecting maturity and intelligence beyond his years. His full, kissable lips quirked as he appraised her with an intensity that made her tremble.

No one can be so gorgeous. Her daughters’ features were angelic, but the boy seemed to come straight from paradise.

A few rebellious strands of light brown hair fell across his smooth, wide forehead. The V- neck sweater fit snug around his tight muscles. A perfect representation of Adonis, or her daughters would say, Edward Cullen.

Entranced, she was unable to look away. Wait a minute! Why am I staring at this boy? He could be my son!

Yet no matter how hard she struggled to bury the magnetism, it grew stronger. She’d never drooled over a man. Why now, and why over a boy? Her feeling that he was familiar grew stronger, making her question her sanity. It was like a dual personality afflicting her demanded action—but she took none. I don’t understand what I’m feeling. These emotions can’t be mine. She rubbed her temples, collecting her thoughts.

“Mona, do you remember Eric?” the man’s voice intruded.

It took a few moments to tear away from the boy and lock eyes with the man. He shifted in the chair, watching, a glint of hope curving the corner of his mouth.

Snippets of memory—not mine, I swear, not mine—showed a younger Eric and another man with shocking blue eyes.

“She has no memory?” With puppy dog eyes, Eric cocked his head toward the man.


“I’m afraid not.”

“If her condition is bad, why is she home, much less going to school? Shouldn’t my father have kept her in the hospital for observation?”

“She had no amnesia when she left the hospital. The initial MRI showed no swelling in the tissues, no evidence of liquid pressuring the brain, not even blood clots.” He twisted his mouth. “The X-rays showed no fractures to the cranium.” He wiped his face with his hand. “I just don’t understand what’s going on with her.”

Dolores touched the back of her head. The lump throbbed with pain. What’s he talking about? I was never in the hospital. She pushed against the fluff of pillows, lids half closed, trying to remember the missing pieces.

“If you’re still hurting....”

At the sound of the man’s voice, she glanced up at his puzzled expression.

“Please, stop being heroic and at least take some medication. Mona, if your behavior is an attempt to get out of school, you’ve succeeded. I’m too worried about you.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s late. I’ve got an open-heart surgery to perform in a few hours. I can’t postpone it. Sophie should already be here. She’ll take good care of you.”

Dolores sat up straighter. “Maybe a nap will get rid of my headache.” Staying home would give her the opportunity to figure out what had happened. I just need to stay calm, so I can think rationally. She shoved her hair behind her shoulder.

Brushing his fingers over his chin, he stared at her, eyebrows squeezed together, mouth tight. She understood his struggle. Being a mother, if she’d been under the same circumstances, she wouldn’t want to leave her own daughter home alone.

“I can stay with her, Uncle Richard. Umm, give her time to shower, get ready then drive her to the hospital to see my father later.” Eric chimed in.

Why would he want to stay behind?

The man shifted in the chair to glance at the boy. “I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

“Since my grades are perfect, my father won’t mind.”

He rubbed his hands, nodding. “Could you?”

Eric shrugged. “I’m ahead in school. It’s no big deal if I miss a few hours.”

“That’s fine. You can keep her company. I also want to review the X-rays more closely.” Richard got up and leaned over to kiss her forehead. “Baby girl, I should be done in about five


hours. I’ll see you later.” Then he addressed Eric. “Please bring her by the hospital whenever she’s ready, but make sure she has breakfast first.”

He left the room. Even after he was gone, she continued to stare at the empty doorway. The clear image of Ella and Chloe sitting at the piano playing a duet filled her mind.

“Mona.” Eric’s tone demanded attention. “I’m really sorry about yesterday. I had no idea you would dash down the stairs, tripping like that.” His childish pleadings didn’t match his clenched jaw when he stopped speaking.

She processed his words, dissecting each one, churning them in her mind. “Did you chase me down the stairs?”

“In a way.”

She shifted under his scrutiny.

“Tell you what, let’s go for a ride. Some fresh air might do you a world of good.” Jumping to his feet, he extended his hand.

She didn’t move.

“Oh, come on!” The right side of his mouth curled into a smile, illuminating his features. “You always liked riding with me. You got a problem now?” He sunk into the chair and rolled his eyes. “Fine. Did you want me to beg for forgiveness?” He dropped to his knees, hands together in prayer. “Please, Mona, forgive me so we can go for a ride?”

“You don’t understand. I have nothing to forgive because I’m not Mona.”

A startled contortion of the mouth skewed his face. He stood again, folding his arms across his chest. Is he smirking? “Fine. Who are you today?”

Ignoring him, she walked to the computer to check her sanity.

Following, he stood behind, watching over her shoulder. The boy had morphed into a pesky fly she couldn’t swat away.

Dolores maximized the article about the accident on the monitor and reread it. Nothing made sense since she was alive...but in her young body. Another flash of light sparked behind her eyes, followed by sharp pain. The sound of crunching glass echoed in her mind.

This is crazy! She laughed with a bit of hysteria at the situation. I must be having a nervous breakdown. Great!

Eric’s warm hand on her shoulder made her look up. “Why are you reading this article?”


The sticky paste in her mouth prevented her from answering. Something about the boy scared her.

Before she was able to collect her thoughts, he moved away, pacing around the room, head leaned forward, hands behind his back like her grandfather used to do. The agility of youth with the movements of an old man—her mind was playing tricks.

She opened a new browser and checked her email. No responses from girls or Ethan. Her lungs deflated.

He came to tower over her, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her up. With great force, he dragged her out of the room and down the stairs. What the hell is he doing? Planting her feet on the floor, she tried to stop him, but he continued to drag her across the foyer. Damn! He’s too strong for me. He swung the front door open.

“Wait!”

He whirled around, releasing her. Furrowed brows covered some of the intensity in his eyes. “What?”

“Where are we going?” The hairs on her body prickled with creepy distrust.

“For a ride, the way we always do when you’re feeling under the weather.” He stared, puzzled, his arms dangling at his sides.

“Why are you ignoring the fact I’m not Mona?”

His jaw dropped open. After closing both his mouth and the door, he grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her into a powder room, making her stand before the mirror. “What do you see?”

Dolores’s seventeen-year-old-self stared back at her. “What do you see?”

He huffed. “I see the usual silly Mona, trying to drive me crazy for no reason.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.

She glanced at his reflection, finding skewed brows and tight lips. Why does he see Mona, but I see my younger self?

Scrutinizing her image, she realized she still wore the sweatshirt. She whirled and punched his arm. “You can’t make me go out in this.”

What looked like a hint of relief swam across his features. “Well then, you better go put some clothes on.”


She rushed out of the bathroom and up the stairs into the bedroom, closing the door. She reached toward the knob to turn the lock, but there was none. She threw her arms up in the air. No lock? No way to keep him out? Dismay and frustration twisted through her. Leaning against the door, she covered her face with her hands. The world had gone insane, sucking her into its madness. Am I going crazy?

Lifting her head, she inhaled deeply, attempting to settle her nerves. To her right, a large piece of furniture drew her attention. She stared perplexed at what she assumed to be an original Marie Antoinette vanity. Shuffling toward it, she was compelled to detour to the nearest corner to admire a collection of stuffed animals—pink, white, plush. Someone else’s feelings tugged at her gut. She shook her head. Her daughters had similar collections, but the one before her was not it. What the hell am I doing? I need to get out of here before I really do go crazy.

A closed door stood at the other end of the room, begging to be opened. She wondered what hid behind it. An incomprehensible urge to explore washed over her. Why is my curiosity overpowering my better judgment? She crossed the floor and opened the door. A dressing room- slash-closet lay on the other side. Wow! This Mona kid has her own mini mall. Although impressive, she had no interest in lingering.

She stepped through a carved wood frame, entering into the bathroom. No door? She glanced back again. Sure enough, the dark cherry frame had no door.

A master suite bathroom—but with only one sink—greeted her at the other side. Lavish, cream-colored marble tile with gold variegations chilled her naked feet. A long countertop of the same stone contrasted chocolate walls. Trailing her fingertips across the smooth surface, she paused to stare into the oval mirror, framed with intricate carvings in gold leaf that hung above the sink, reflecting her newfound youth. She shuddered. If I’m young again, do Ella and Chloe exist?

The bathroom seemed familiar, but even odder then its familiarity was that, in a blink, she knew the placements of all the toiletries. The brand of deodorant. The expensive shampoo. She frowned, remembering the scent of two distinct brands—the one she used and the one Mona used.

Dear God, what’s going on? The reflection in the mirror mocked the shambled state of her mind. It just can’t be real.


She opened a drawer and took out the ibuprofen bottle. Swallowing two, she hoped to get rid of the pounding headache that threatened misery. With a small paper cup still in hand, she jolted. How did I know that particular drawer held the ibuprofen?

Dropping the cup on the counter, she staggered toward the shower, seeking some sense of normality. She shed her clothes and stepped into the oversized area, letting steamy water pour over her. Soothing, relaxing, the vapors fogged the entire room, hazing her vision, numbing her senses.

She was lost for what seemed an eternity in the present world where nothing appeared the way it should.

“Are you still alive in there?” Eric’s tenor voice startled her into reality.

Dolores shut off the water. “Get out,” she yelled, annoyed at his audacity.

“Fine. Just don’t have a cow. I put some breakfast on the kitchen table. Make sure you eat it.”

The door slammed.

Don’t have a cow? She’d never heard a teen use that expression. Wrapping a towel around her body, she tiptoed into the dressing room to search for some clothes to wear. A fresh thong, lacy bra, jeans, white tee topped with a black vest, and a pair of Sperry top-siders comprised the day’s ensemble of a mixed up teen-mom. Some mousse, a few scrunches, and the hair was good to go.

Searching the closet, she grabbed an oversized purse—force of habit—and dashed out of the room to stumble down a few stairs.

“Are you all right?” he yelled from another room.

Stopping in her tracks, she peered in the direction his voice had come from. No. I need answers.

“Make sure you bring a jacket,” he added. “It’s chilly outside.”

She threw the handbag the rest of the way, where it landed in the middle of the foyer. Gees, why in the world did I do that? Pivoting, she returned to the room. At the threshold, she froze, out of breath and beginning to feel like a pregnant woman with unbalanced hormonal mood swings.

Forcing herself forward, she went straight to the section housing all of Mona’s jackets, jeans, sweatshirts with zippers, pull-over-sweats, hoodies.... Damn! Whatever happened to sweaters and jackets? Groaning, she remembered Mona had no sweaters or casual jackets, so grabbing the next best thing—a zippered sweatshirt—she flew down to the kitchen.


On the table sat a plate of scrambled eggs with a side of buttered toast. She forced the cold food into her empty stomach, hoping the queasiness might go away. When done, she dashed toward the front door, just to trip on the handbag and fall sprawling on the hardwood floor. From nowhere, two hands grabbed her underarms, turning her around.

“Are you okay?” He stared at her, his face filled with worry.

Before she spoke, he helped her to a sitting position. The tension, the unknown, the place she didn’t recognize, her youth...it all crashed down on her, and she exploded into tears.

Shock ran through her body at how he scooped her into his arms, cradling her like a child. He rocked from side-to-side while her hysterics continued. After a while, she wiped her face with the backs of her hands. His arms still held her tight against his solid chest.

“Can you please tell me what’s going on with you today?” His lips came so close his warm breath attacked her ear.

The question didn’t ring like the speech of a teen. She squirmed, trying to free herself.

He kissed the top of her head then stood, pulling her up with him. Like a graceful dancer, he picked up the empty purse and the jacket and walked out the front door.

What just happened? Still in a daze, she followed, closing the door behind her.

The hazy day painted the world gray. She rolled her eyes toward the sky. It looked like rain. Damn, she didn’t even have an umbrella.

Curiosity tugging, she pivoted back toward the house, a mansion with no other homes next to it—none that she could see anyway. In the middle of the circular drive rested a white marble fountain of the three graces. She had seen the house before but couldn’t remember where. A magazine maybe?

Eric sat in a sleek Ferrari—motor already running—waiting for her to clamber aboard.

She slid into the passenger seat, and the second she pulled the door shut, he stomped on the accelerator. The car took off like a rocket. She glanced at the speedometer. Forty miles an hour down this winding driveway? Dolores fumbled to fasten the seat belt.


~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
annamaria bazziAlthough born in the United States, Annamaria Bazzi spent a great deal of her childhood in Sicily, Italy, in a town called Sciacca. Italian was the language spoken at home. Therefore, she had no problems when she found herself growing up in a strange country. Upon returning to the states, she promised herself she would speak without an accent. She attended Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Computers with a minor in Spanish.

Annamaria spent twenty years programming systems for large corporations, creating innovative solution, and addressing customer problems. During those years, she raised four daughters and one husband. Annamaria lives in Richmond Virginia with her small family where she now dedicates a good part of her day writing.

You can visit Annamaria at:

blog / website / Facebook / annamariascorner@yahoo.com / twitter / goodreads

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Where's the best place to advertise an ebook sale? My findings...

Hello, all! It's been a very long time since I posted a writing/publishing related Wednesday post, since I've almost entirely devoted my blog to readers, but I wanted to share this information and perhaps encourage you all to share your findings as well. What am I focusing on today? Marketing! Yay, that not so fun part of being an Indie Author. Spreading the word about your books. I've been loathe to spend money on promotion when I wasn't making much in profits yet, but my last royalty payment from Smashwords was enough to make me consider it. The question was, where could I best spend my money for the biggest return?

I've heard many people swear by Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/partners/pricing).  At some point, I'd like to advertise with them, but let's face it, at the time of this blog, advertising a 99 cent romantic suspense novel is $260! I wasn't sure I wanted to put all my eggs into one basket.

Last year I came across a blog describing a 7 day launch strategy, and I'd been wanting to try it. (http://rockingselfpublishing.com/episode-07-the-7-day-launch-strategy-with-darren-wearmouth/)

Some of the things they did I didn't find practical, but I picked the ads I could afford and schedule in time and away I went. I changed Love & Deception (Agents in Love - Book 1) to 99 cents on May 1st, and then set up a week's worth of ads. Here are the ads I chose and they days they ran:

1. HotZippy (http://hotzippy.net/feature-your-book.html) where I chose the Romance eBook Deals page. Ran 5/2 and 5/3 - $10

2. Ebook Booster (http://www.ebookbooster.com/). Ran 5/2 - 5/4.  - $30

3.  Kindle Nation Daily (http://indie.kindlenationdaily.com/?page_id=642). I really wanted to do the Kindle Daily Deal, but there wasn't an opening and I ended up doing the Kindle Fire book of the day. Did the Book Gorilla cross-over promotion they offered for free. 5/4 - $99

4.  Booksends (http://www.booksends.com/advertise.php) 5/5 - $50

5. Ereader News Today (you can contact these guys directly, but this was actually submitted through Ebook Booster - ENT takes a percentage of your sales from their affiliate link) 5/7 - 5/8 - $ Varies based on sales.

So, here I thought I had a pretty good spread of advertisements and I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. Here's what happened.


By the evening of 5/2, Love & Deception had shot up the charts, hitting #90 on the romantic suspense best seller's list. Color me happy!! Sales continued strong the following day as well. The highest ranking I hit was 643 overall and 43 in Romantic Suspense. Here is a view of what happened the entire week and for the week following the sale.


 May 1 - 9 sales of Love & Deception
May 2 - 277
May 3 - 55
May 4 - 95
May 5 - 75
May 6 - 16
May 7 - 187
May 8 - 40

All in all, not too bad of an experiment, since I made my money back plus $75. I also sold an increased number of my other books all throughout the rest of May.

In looking over the numbers for the cost of things, I wish I hadn't paid for Kindle Nation Daily (though I have hopes a different ad might do better) or Booksends. They really didn't perform well for the money they cost. However, I was really happy with the Ebook Booster, and Ereader News Today is always a good bet if you can get on with them.

Following the success of this sale, I decided to put an older title, Crime & Passion, on sale for 5 days and bought ads through HotZippy, but did their other two options instead of the romance ebook deal. It was $30, and I unfortunately only sold 28 books through this sale. Not sure if it is because I had done a free giveaway on this book last year and so everyone had it already, or if it was because I didn't pick the romance option for the ad.

I will continue experimenting and trying to increase my visibility as I go along. Hopefully this information helps some of you other authors out there looking for real number sales on ads.

**These results are what happened to me with my books, but results will vary. This blog is for informational purposes only. I am not getting anything from any of the companies for sharing my experience, and your mileage may vary. All companies I dealt with were professional and got my ads out as promised. **

Do you have any experience with buying ads? Anyone you would recommend or warn people away from? Leave me a comment and let's help each other!

Monday, June 2, 2014

Hot Romance - One Lucky Night - 99 cent sale!


One Lucky Night, a collection of five sexy interwoven novelettes is on sale for 99 cents for two weeks only!



One night can change everything…

The crew at Boston’s Brazen Head Pub hasn’t been very lucky in love. Can a mysterious visitor inspire them to look past old hurts and misconceptions and give romance a chance?


Lucky Break by Aria Kane
Four years ago, chef Derek Chase walked out of Andrea Rivera’s life after a tragedy neither of them were prepared to deal with. When she’s called to the Brazen Head to repair a dishwasher, old sparks ignite buried feelings.

Lucky Star by Grace Teague
When her life is threatened by a mugger, Charlotte Price realizes she's in love with her best friend, Tommy Leung. The Brazen Head seems like the perfect neutral place to confess her feelings, but nothing goes according to plan.

A New Tune by Ana Blaze
When it comes to dating, Holly Hall has one unbreakable rule: no musicians. Especially not gorgeous ones. Dating them only leads to heartbreak. So why did she let singer-songwriter Cian O’Neill kiss her? And why is she thinking about doing it again?

Lexi’s Chance by Constance Phillips
As a bartender, Sean Whelan meets all kinds of women every night, but none turn his head the way that Lexi has. She’s been playing cat and mouse with him for weeks. Tonight, Sean’s determined to get Lexi to quit teasing and take a real chance on him.

Drink or Dare by Melinda Dozier
A bachelorette party Drink or Dare game pairs paramedic students, Rachel Robertson and Killian Whelan, in a flirting match. Soon, the dares threaten to turn their academic rivalry into something much more.



What Readers Are Saying

"All I can say is HOT, HOT, HOT!!  Don’t just take my word for it, make sure you get your copy of this book today!"

~Sleep Deprived Book Lovers


"I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys romance!"

~Fictional Candy


"All five authors are gifted storytellers, creating characters you believe and care about, and sex scenes that may just melt your e-reader.

Flirty, sexy and fun, this collection of sizzling tales will make you smile long after you finish turning pages."

~Read, Write, Review

Get your copy today for only 99 cents!!

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